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Andreas, Many thanks indeed. I suspect his Abyssinan/Ethiopian award was from Emperor Menelik II for medical services to the Ethiopian community. I have now for some dates for Dr. Lorch : 1851-1928 - he appears to have been first employed by the German Hospital in 1886. Again thank you, Owain

Gentlemen, Further to research into Ethiopian Orders I have come across Dr. Lorch. I attach below his entry in the Deutscher Ordens Almanac of 1908/9. Born 8 February 1851 at Winterlingen - formerly in Wurttemberg today in Baden-Wurttemberg. Ab SS 3 = Abyssinia Seal Solomon 3rd Class Gothic print and Imperial German award abbreviations are not my strong point. Can I ask one of you to 'translate' for me into legible German/English his full entry? With thanks in advance, Owain P.S. I have tried to find other details concerning Dr. Lorch but so far drawn a blank.

Gentlemen, I have recently obtained this group of nice miniatures. Can anyone identify the last/sixth award? The combination of life raft suspension and red cross device may indicate some manner of life saving award. The other awards are as follows: Societes de Secours Mutuels / Ministere du Travail et de la Prevoyance Sociale Republique Francaise Academie Devoument National Societe National Devoument et Progres Societe Republicaine d'Encouragement au Devoument Republique Francaise / Medaille du Bien Public Unknown Many thanks Owain

Demir, Many thanks indeed - much appreciated. I tried Google translate but with no success! Owain

Good evening, I have been given an unknown to me Ottoman title or rank yaveran i hazreti sehriyari Can this be translated? I think the second word is something like 'highness' Thanks, Owain

Ilja, Thanks for the link. The English title is 'award' but the Arabic could also be easily translated as 'prize'. The award in four classes is linked not only to service but time served in qualifying, and the four grades are as follows- Collar 25 years plus, Sash 20 years plus, Badge (the Arabic reads 'order') 15 years plus; and the medal 10 years plus. Regards, Owain

Ilja, An interesting combination of community award with a structure of an order. A lot of the Arabic is not clear but the upper inscription on the badge is, "In the name of Allah, etc.". The suspension disc on the collar reads, "The Collar", and on the sash, "The Sash". Some nice symbolism - red and white - the colour of the Dubai flag; seven points to the badge - seven emirates in the UAE; and the use of pearls to reflect the traditional industry of the emirate. Owain

The lapel badge is also 'Cairo University', Owain

Hi, It is a medal from 1956 for/from Cairo University - possibly something to do with 'life education' - it may be some manner of society badge. Regards, Owain

Ilja, The certificate notes, "National Order of Labour" of the First Class awarded to Ambassador Salah Ali Hassan Al Malki. Owain

Ilja, Not a medal but a prize. The inscription is not clear but I can make out that is is a prize for humanitarian work in the name of Mohammed Al Qassimi (Sharjah?). The top of the medal, I think, is, 'In the name of Allah, etc." Owain

Thanks Nick. Even if I get 50% it will cover a few beers - thank for the link. Owain

I am assuming these are of no great scarcity or value. Owain

Many thanks - again GMIC members add information! Owain

Gentlemen, I recently acquired as part of a lot of assorted UK club medals the pair of wings illustrated below. They are very well made and in excellent condition and are made by the firm of Johnson of Milan. The cardboard case may be original. One has a crown and one does not. Online research indicates that the crown was removed from the badge after the fall of the central government of Mussolini. This is not my area of expertise but as they are so well made I am happy to share. No doubt someone in GMIC can enlighten us. Kind regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Finally for today another example of a RAOB Iraq jewel - this time of a standard early generic format - see India and Sudan jewels previously illustrated - of gilt metal of excellent quality: Obverse - Royal Antedeluvian Order of Buffaloes / S.T.B. / Iraq (I am unaware as to what STB stands for) Reverse - Bro. F. Crayton / Member Of The / R.A.O.B., G.L.E. / In Iraq (The name has been engraved) & Maker's name - L. Simpson & Co. / 56 York Road / King's Cross N1 In addition the box which the medal came in which is detailed - Telephone : North 0864 / L. Simpson & Co., / Masonic & Buffalo Jewellers, / Battle bridge Works / 56. York Road, King's Cross, / London, N.1. Finally the accompanying certificate of membership which notes that, "This is to Certify that Brother Fred Crayton was initiated a member of the Royal Air Force Lodge No. 3705 in the Town of Uxbridge the 27th day of March 1925". It is reasonable to infer that Fred Crayton was a member of the RAF and was thereafter posted to Iraq. From Wikipedia I detail below the history of RAF Uxbridge. RAF Uxbridge was a Royal Air Force (RAF) station in Uxbridge, within the London Borough of Hillingdon, occupying a 44.6-hectare (110-acre). The British Government purchased the estate in 1915, three years before the founding of the RAF. The station is best known as the headquarters of No. 11 Group RAF, which was responsible for the aerial defence of London and the south-east of England during the Battle of Britain. A bunker, subsequently known as the Battle of Britain Bunker, was built nearby to house the 11 Group Operations Room, which controlled fighter squadrons operating within the group. The Operations Room was also responsible for providing air support during the evacuation of Dunkirk in May 1940 (Operation Dynamo) and the D-Day landings (Operation Overlord). It was here that Winston Churchill first said, "Never in the history of mankind has so much been owed by so many to so few", which he repeated in a speech to Parliament four days later. RAF Uxbridge closed on 31 March 2010 as part of a reduction in the number of Ministry of Defence installations in the Greater London area. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, This time a more detailed image of an already seen Omani based RAOB Lodge: Top bar - RAOB Obverse - Andrew 9898 Grainger Reverse - Plain other than the makers mark - Parry B'Ham As of writing I have no detail as to who Andrew Grainger is or was. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Purchased may years ago in London: Top Bar - Pyramid Lodge No 692 Bottom Bar - Saudi Arabia Obverse - Founder Member 1982 Reverse - Plain I am not sure which jurisdiction this particular lodge came under - not the United Grand Lodge of England - possible an American one. I believe that there were lodges on US bases which were established by personnel who had been based in overseas in Germany or elsewhere. A quick search on line comes up with 'American Lodge of Past Masters 962 / American Canadian Grand Lodge / Under the Jurisdiction of / United Grand Lodges of Germany' - accordingly this jewel was made for their members based in Saudi Arabia. Regards, Owain

Good afternoon, Two further generic RAOB jewels to, in this instance, Oman based RAOB lodges: Jewel A Top bar - Dhofar Lodge 9721 Obverse - Services Rendered Reverse (obscured by glue) - Presented to / Bro / Ducky Davies / KOM / For Services / Rendered / 1979 Maker - Parry B'ham Jewel B Top bar - Sultanate of Oman No. 1 Lower bar - Knights Chapter No. 307 Obverse - Royal Antedeluvian Order of Buffaloes / Nemo Mortalium Omnibus Horis Sabit Reverse - Mark of FC Parry of Birmingham - silver gilt & date mark 'H' - 1982 Regards, Owain

Hi, It appears to be some manner of Iraqi Army Sport (olympic) medallion. The obverse 'RCC' stands for Revolutionary Command Council - with a bust of Saddam Hussein and the reverse Arabic is 'Al Jaish Al Iraq' - Iraqi Army. Regards, Owain

Rusty, Many thanks - as you note beautiful mages - I suspect that the artwork is by Bichay and his colleagues. Regards, Owain

Rusty, The mongram on Igor's 2nd Class case is that of Fuad the First. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Yet another - this time a generic 'Services Rendered' jewel present by the Scorpion Lodge No. 8351 - see Lodge specific jewel earlier. The inscription on the reverse reads, "Presented to / Bro. / R. Finch K.O.M. / by the / Scorpion Lodge No. 8351 / For Services Rendered / 7th April 1972" There is a Birmingham silver mark and the letter 'W being the date letter for 1971. The makers initials of 'F.C.P.' are for the maker Parry of Birmingham. Kind regards, Owain

Stuka, Detailed below is a group I have of Belgian Great War miniatures which include service in the Belgian Congo. Regards, Owain Belgian group of six miniatures suspended directly, without any ribbons, from a gilt chain consisting of the following: 1. Croix de Guerre 1914-18 – 1914-18 War Cross. 2. Médaille de la Victoire 1914–1918 - Victory Medal 1914-18 3. Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1914–1918 - 1914-18 War Medal. 4. Médaille Commémorative des Campagnes d’Afrique 1914-1917 – Africa Campaigns Medal 1914-1917 - established 21 February 1917. 5. Étoile de Service - Service Star – established 16 January 1889. This is a civil award for service within the Congo Free States. 6. United Kingdom – Unknown Medal – the medal with a blank reverse and no suspension bar, appears to be of silver and is of continental manufacture – the obverse is the standard King George V issue and could represent the DCM, MM or MSM.

Gentlemen, A further Dhofar 9721 Lodge jewel - this one to commemorate its 200th meeting: Obverse "Dhofar 9721 / 200th Meeting 12-12-73" Reverse "Silver" on the Omani state badge of crossed sword and dagger. The ribbon is in the Omani flag colours of green, red and white. The Dhofar rebellion was over in 1975 and assuming the Lodge met in at the RAF base in Salalah - the capital of Dhofar Governate, the jewel would indicate that the Lodge met throughout the war. Regards, Owain,